By Lucia Baldelli
The Professional Certified Coach (PCC) is the globally recognised standard for experienced coaches. It marks your transition from a basic understanding of coaching techniques to professional fluidity and consistent impact.
ICF PCC requirements at a glance
To qualify for your PCC credential, you must satisfy several core benchmarks:
- Coach specific education: At least 125 hours of eligible training
- Coaching experience: At least 500 hours of documented coaching
- Paid sessions: At least 450 of your total hours must be paid
- Client diversity: You must have worked with at least 25 different clients
- Recent practice: At least 50 hours must be completed within the 18 months before submitting your application
- Mentor coaching: 10 hours of mentor coaching conducted over at least three months, including at least three individual hours
- Performance evaluation: Successful assessment of your coaching recordings
- Credentialing exam: Passing the official ICF situational judgement test
Please note that how your requirements are verified depends entirely on whether you apply through the Level 2 Path or the Portfolio Path.
What is the ICF PCC credential?
The PCC represents a solid integration of the ICF Core Competencies. Unlike the ACC (Associate Certified Coach), which focuses on the correct application of tools, the PCC demonstrates that the coach is no longer just “doing” coaching, but is starting to be a coach.
At this level, your practice is structured, consistent, and professional. You are expected to show:
- Fluidity: The ability to move with the client’s agenda without sticking to a rigid script.
- Authentic Partnership: A shift from being the “expert with the questions” to being a collaborator in the client’s growth.
- Adaptability: The capacity to handle complex human dynamics, particularly in leadership and organizational contexts.
The PCC is widely regarded as the “professional standard” in the corporate world. It assures organizations that the coach adheres to the ICF Code of Ethics and possesses the psychological depth to work with senior leaders.
ICF PCC vs ACC vs MCC: Key Differences
Stepping up to the PCC level represents both a quantitative increase in your hours and a qualitative development in your coaching presence. To help you understand where the PCC fits within the ICF credentialing framework, we have summarised the key requirements for all three levels in the table below:
Requirement | ACC | PCC | MCC |
|---|---|---|---|
Coaching education | 60+ hours | 125+ hours | 200+ hours |
Coaching experience | 100+ hours | 500+ hours | 2.50+ hours |
Minimum clients | 8 clients | 25 clients | 35 clients |
Minimum paid hours | 75+ hours | 450+ hours | 2.250+ hours |
Mentor Coaching | 10 hours over 3 or more months | 10 hours over 3 or more months (including at least 3 individual hours) | 10 hours with an MCC mentor |
Performance Evaluation | 1 recorded session and transcript | 2 recorded sessions and transcripts (or Level 2 certificate) | 2 recorded sessions and transcripts |
Prerequisites | None | None | Must hold an active PCC |
Understanding the qualitative shift
The progression through these credentials reflects a coach’s journey towards deeper integration:
- The ACC level: focus is on the correct application of coaching tools and structure. While safe and effective, the coaching at this stage can occasionally feel structured or mechanical as the coach focuses on getting the steps right.
- The PCC level: marks the transition to a stable, grounded presence. At this stage, the coach moves beyond rigid techniques to establish an authentic partnership, staying fully present to explore the deeper behavioural patterns behind the client’s goals.
- The MCC level: represents complete mastery, where the coaching process becomes highly intuitive and transformational, shifting from applying tools to operating from a pure state of being.
This comparison helps contextualise the PCC as the definitive professional standard for established practitioners. If you would like to explore these distinctions in greater detail, you can compare the ACC, PCC and MCC credentials and explore all ICF credential paths to find the route that best matches your current experience.
Minimum coaching experience
The jump from 100 to 500 hours is significant. It represents the “messy middle” where you move from practicing on friends and peers to building a real professional portfolio. At the PCC level, 450 of these hours must be paid, proving that your coaching has market value and professional sustainability.
Required training hours
To reach the PCC, you need 125+ coach-specific training hours. This is roughly double the training required for the ACC. This extra education focuses on deepening your understanding of human dynamics, leadership coaching, and managing complex contracts within organizations.
Mentor coaching requirements
For the PCC, you must complete 10 hours of Mentor Coaching over at least 3 months. This mentoring must be focused on the PCC Markers, the specific behaviors that show you are coaching at a professional level. Your mentor must be a PCC or MCC in good standing.
Credential level and focus
The difference here is one of integration:
- ACC (Foundational): You demonstrate the ability to apply the basic competencies. The coaching is often safe and structured, but can feel a bit mechanical as the coach focuses on “getting the steps right.”
- PCC (Professional Integration): You are no longer focused on the “technique.” You are fully present with the client, demonstrating a stable professional presence. You can partner with the client to explore not just the problem, but the deeper patterns beneath it.
- MCC (Mastery): The coaching becomes transformational and intuitive, moving entirely beyond tools into a state of “being.”
At the PCC level, you are expected to be a trusted partner, capable of supporting a client through significant professional and personal transitions with a clear, grounded presence.
How to upgrade from ACC to PCC
If you currently hold an Associate Certified Coach credential, moving to the next level is a natural step, but the transition is not automatic. You must submit a brand new application and prove you satisfy all PCC benchmarks.
The training hours you used for your ACC credential can be applied towards the 125 hour requirement for the PCC, provided they align with ICF criteria. For instance, if you previously completed a 60 hour Level 1 programme, you only need to complete 65 additional hours of advanced training rather than starting from scratch. You must still log 500 coaching hours, complete ten new hours of mentor coaching, pass the performance evaluation, and complete the current credentialing exam if you have not done so already.
ICF PCC requirements overview
Achieving your PCC is a milestone that confirms you’ve moved beyond the “student” phase and into a space of professional reliability. It requires a balance of rigorous documentation and a shift in how you hold the coaching space.
Coaching experience requirements
The ICF is strict about these numbers because they represent the “flight time” necessary to handle complex human dynamics.
- 500 total hours: You must document at least 500 hours of coaching.
- Paid Hours: At least 450 of these must be paid. This proves you are operating as a professional in the market.
- Client Diversity: You must have worked with at least 25 different clients.
- Recency Requisite: At least 50 hours must have been conducted within the 18 months prior to your application. This ensures your skills are fresh and you are currently active.
- Timing: Hours only count after you have started your coach-specific training.
How to calculate and log your coaching experience
Understanding which hours count and how to document them is one of the most common challenges for candidates. To ensure your hours are approved during an audit, keep these guidelines in mind:
- When your hours start counting: Your coaching hours can only be recorded after you have started your coach specific education. Specifically, the ICF requires you to have enrolled in a programme that comprises at least 30 hours, with at least 20 four of those hours dedicated strictly to the ICF Core Competencies. Completing a brief introductory workshop or a single short lesson is not sufficient to start logging hours
- What qualifies as paid coaching: This includes individual coaching, group coaching, or internal workplace coaching. The hours must represent actual coaching, not consulting, mentoring, or training
- Pro bono sessions: You can include up to 50 pro bono or peer coaching hours in your log. The remaining 450 hours must be paid, proving that your work has real market value
- Maintaining your coaching log: You must keep a structured log. For each client, you should document their name, contact details, session dates, and whether the sessions were paid or pro bono. If you are coaching a group, you must log the number of participants, though you cannot multiply the hours by the number of attendees
Coach-specific training requirements
You need a total of 125 hours of education.
- Not “Coaching-Related”: Training in general management, leadership, or communication doesn’t count. It must be specific to the ICF Core Competencies.
- Structured & Documented: You must be able to provide certificates or transcripts showing the hours are aligned with ICF standards.
- Cumulative: If you already have 60 hours from an ACC program, you only need 65 more advanced hours to reach the PCC requirement.
Mentor coaching requirements
Mentor coaching for the PCC is about closing the gap between “good” and “professional.”
- 10 Hours: Total time spent with a mentor.
- Minimum 3 Months: This cannot be rushed; the ICF requires at least 90 days to allow for the integration of feedback.
- Format: A mix of group (up to 7 hours) and at least 3 hours of one-on-one sessions.
- Focus: Developing your ability to demonstrate the PCC Markers in real sessions.
Preparing for your performance evaluation
If you apply via the Portfolio Path, your recordings must showcase your alignment with the official PCC Markers. To prepare effectively, make sure you:
- Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the specific behavioural indicators measured by the markers
- Select sessions where you establish a clear partnership rather than trying to solve the client’s problems
- Verify the technical quality of your audio and secure written client consent
- Provide verbatim transcripts without paraphrasing
The ICF Credentialing Exam
The exam is a situational judgement test consisting of 78 scenario based items. You will be presented with realistic coaching situations and asked to identify both the best and the worst response. This test evaluates your practical application of the ICF Core Competencies and the Code of Ethics.
The exam is scheduled only after your documentation has been fully approved by the ICF. If you want to arrive at your test with absolute confidence, we recommend checking our dedicated guide to the ICF Credentialing Exam for practical prep tips.
Application Paths for PCC Certification
When you apply for your Professional Certified Coach credential, the standards required to prove your coaching skills remain identical. However, the administrative process, the costs, the evaluation timeline, and how you verify your training vary significantly depending on the application path you choose.
To help you make an informed decision, we have summarised the key operational differences between the two main paths in the table below:
Feature | Level 2 Path | Portfolio Path |
|---|---|---|
Who can use it | Graduates of a comprehensive, ICF accredited Level 2 programme | Coaches combining different courses, including non accredited training |
Managed by training provider | 125 training hours, 10 hours of mentor coaching, and the Performance Evaluation | Issuing completion certificates for individual completed hours only |
Managed by candidate | Logging 500 coaching hours and passing the official exam | Gathering all training certificates, verifying curriculum alignment, documenting mentor coaching, recording sessions, transcribing audio, logging 500 coaching hours, and passing the exam |
Performance Evaluation | Conducted internally by your accredited training provider | Conducted externally by official ICF assessors |
Required documents | Level 2 completion certificate and your coaching experience log | Training certificates, detailed course curriculums, proof of mentor coaching, coaching log, 2 audio recordings, and 2 verbatim transcripts |
Administrative burden | Low, as the Level 2 certificate covers most requirements | High, due to extensive curriculum and session documentation |
ICF candidacy fees | $375 for ICF members and $525 for non members | $750 for ICF members and $900 for non members |
Estimated review time | Approximately 4 weeks | Up to 18 weeks |
The Level 2 Path
The Level 2 Path is the most linear and structured route to achieving your PCC. It is specifically designed for coaches who have completed a single, fully accredited ICF Level 2 programme.
The primary advantage of this route is integration. Your Level 2 programme is an all inclusive package that pre validates your progress by incorporating the required 125 hours of coach specific training, the 10 mandatory hours of mentor coaching, and the final PCC performance evaluation. This means the assessment of your skills is handled directly by your training provider. You do not need to record new sessions or submit audio files and transcripts to the ICF for external evaluation.
While the Level 2 completion certificate significantly simplifies the verification of your training and skills, it is not a shortcut that automatically grants you the credential. To finalize your application, you must still submit your coaching log documenting at least 500 hours of experience and successfully pass the official ICF Credentialing Exam.
The Portfolio Path
The Portfolio Path is designed for coaches who have taken a custom, non linear approach to their professional education. This route is ideal if you have built your required 125 hours of training by combining different programmes, which may include a mix of ICF accredited courses, continuous education modules, and non accredited training.
Because your education has not been vetted as a single, cohesive programme, you will face a significantly higher administrative and documentary burden. When preparing your application, you must gather and submit:
- Certificates and official attestations confirming at least 125 hours of coach specific training.
- Detailed course curriculum outlines to prove that your training hours directly align with the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics.
- Documented proof of your 10 hours of mentor coaching with an eligible coach.
- A structured coaching log verifying your 500 hours of experience.
- 2 high quality audio recordings of actual coaching sessions.
- Word for word, verbatim written transcripts of both recorded sessions.
In this path, any non accredited training you submit is subject to a rigorous evaluation by the ICF to verify its eligibility. Furthermore, your performance evaluation is conducted externally. Official ICF assessors will listen to and grade your 2 recorded sessions to ensure your practice meets the strict behavioral standards expected at the PCC level. Due to this individual assessment, the application fees are higher and the review process is much longer, often taking several months to complete.
What if you completed an ACTP or ACSTH programme?
Although the International Coaching Federation transitioned to the current Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 terminology, legacy certificates remain fully recognised. If you hold an older ACTP or ACSTH certificate, you can still apply for your credential.
However, you must verify how your historical documentation maps onto the current application pathways. Generally, a legacy ACTP certificate aligns with the streamlined Level 2 process, whilst an ACSTH certificate will require you to apply via the Portfolio Path and submit your recordings for evaluation. We recommend checking the official ICF guidelines to confirm the current validity of your older documentation before starting your submission.
How to apply for ICF PCC certification
Once you have your hours and training ready, the application process moves through three main phases.
Documents required for the Level 2 Path
- Your official Level 2 completion certificate
- Your coaching experience log proving five hundred hours
- The completed official online application form
- Your application fee payment
- Successful completion of the ICF Credentialing Exam
Documents required for the Portfolio Path
- Certificates confirming at least 125 hours of coach specific education
- Detailed course curriculum outlines to prove alignment with ICF standards
- Your coaching experience log proving five hundred hours
- Documented proof of your ten hours of mentor coaching
- Two high quality audio recordings of actual sessions
- Verbatim written transcripts for both sessions
PCC application fees and processing times
Budgeting for your credential involves separating training fees, mentor coaching costs, and the official application fees. Based on current ICF guidelines, the official application fees and estimated review times are:
- Level 2 Path: $375 for ICF members and $525 for non members, with an estimated review time of approximately 4 weeks
- Portfolio Path: $750 for ICF members and $900 for non members, often taking up to 18 weeks for official assessors that must evaluate your recordings
We highly recommend checking the official ICF website before submitting your application, as fees and processing times are subject to change.
Submit the application
You will log into the ICF website, select your path (Level 2 or Portfolio), upload your files, and pay the fee. The ICF will then perform a formal review of your requirements.
Submit coaching recordings (if required)
If you apply via the Portfolio path, your recordings will be sent to an ICF assessor. They look for partnership, depth of listening, and professional presence. They want to see that you aren’t just “fixing” a problem, but evoking awareness in the client.
Take and pass the credentialing exam
Once your documentation is approved, you will receive an invitation to schedule your exam. This is the final step in the process.
How Long Does It Take to Get PCC?
While many coaches complete their transition to the PCC level within 1 to 3 years, this is merely a common estimate and not an official ICF timeline. The actual duration of your journey is highly individual and depends on several unique variables, such as your starting point and your weekly schedule.
To plan your path realistically, you must distinguish between three entirely separate phases:
- Time needed to meet the eligibility requirements: This phase is completely variable and depends on your personal pace. It is determined by the coach specific education you have already completed, the number of coaching hours you have already logged, and how quickly you can accumulate your remaining hours to reach the 500 hour threshold.
- ICF application review time: This is a fixed administrative period determined officially by the ICF based on your chosen application path. If you qualify for the Level 2 Path, the review process is fast, typically taking around 4 weeks. If you apply via the Portfolio Path, the review is significantly longer, often taking up to 18 weeks, as official assessors must evaluate your recordings. This timeline can also extend if the ICF requests supplementary documentation to clarify your training curriculum.
- Time needed to schedule and complete the exam: Once your documentation has been fully approved by the ICF, you will receive confirmation to schedule your exam. The time you require to prepare for this situational judgement test and book an official slot will determine when you finally receive your credential.
How to maintain your PCC credential (Renewal Requirements)
Your PCC is a living credential. To ensure you stay sharp and ethical, you must renew it every 3 years.
CCE requirements
You must earn 40 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units within each 3-year cycle. This encourages you to keep exploring new human dynamics and coaching niches.
Core competencies and ethics hours
Of those 40 hours, at least 24 must be in Core Competencies, and at least 3 must be in Coaching Ethics.
Mentor Coaching requirements for PCC renewal
Your PCC credential is valid for 3 years. To successfully complete your renewal cycle and maintain your active status, you must accumulate a total of 40 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units. These units must meet specific distribution criteria:
- At least 24 hours in Core Competencies: This represents the core of your continuous learning.
- At least 3 hours in Coaching Ethics: These hours must be dedicated specifically to the ICF Code of Ethics and are counted as part of your twenty four Core Competencies hours.
- 10 hours of new Mentor Coaching: These hours must be conducted over a period of at least three months, and they can also be included within your twenty four Core Competencies hours.
- 60 remaining hours: You can complete these hours in either Core Competencies or Resource Development depending on your professional interests.
It is important to understand the specific focus of your renewal mentoring. This process is entirely centered on the direct observation of your coaching sessions, allowing a qualified mentor to provide structured feedback that further develops your skills against the official ICF standards.
Is Coach Supervision required for PCC renewal?
Whilst Mentor Coaching is a mandatory requirement for your 3 year renewal cycle, Coach Supervision remains entirely voluntary.
Coach Supervision is a distinct professional practice that provides a safe and reflective space. Partnering with a qualified supervisor allows you to explore the broader and more complex aspects of your coaching presence. During these reflective sessions, you will typically focus on:
- The relationships you develop with your clients
- Your personal emotional involvement and internal boundaries
- Specific difficulties or hurdles encountered during your live sessions
- The overall boundaries of the professional coaching relationship
- Ethical dilemmas or doubts that may arise in your daily practice
- Your overall professional wellbeing and health as a practitioner
Because Coach Supervision is designed around reflective practice rather than direct competency development, it does not replace the mandatory 10 hours of Mentor Coaching required for your PCC renewal. While we highly recommend supervision as a powerful tool for advanced development and self care, it remains a voluntary activity and cannot be used as an equivalent substitute for your mandatory mentoring hours.
Common Challenges in the PCC Certification Process
Accumulating paid coaching hours
Reaching the 450 paid hour threshold is often the most significant practical challenge for candidates. Instead of leaving this accumulation to chance, you should treat it as a project with a structured weekly timeline. To hit your target efficiently, consider these concrete actions:
- Establish a weekly session quota: Accumulating 400 additional hours (assuming you start with one hundred from your ACC) over 18 months requires roughly 5 hours of coaching per week. Setting a fixed weekly target in your calendar keeps you on track.
- Diversify your client sources: To build volume quickly, consider offering corporate packages to local small businesses or startups. These hours are fully eligible as paid coaching, even if offered at a discounted introductory rate.
- Utilise peer coaching exchanges: Engaging in formal peer coaching communities allows you to trade coaching hours with other practitioners. Under ICF guidelines, hours spent coaching other coaches count as paid hours, provided there is a clear reciprocal contract or fee.
- Document your log in real time: Do not wait until the end of your training to build your coaching log. Keep a secure spreadsheet and update it weekly with your client’s name, contact details, dates, and whether the session was paid or pro bono, ensuring you never lose track of your progress.
Preparing for the Performance Evaluation
If you apply via the Portfolio Path, your recording assessment is handled directly by ICF assessors. To prevent a costly rejection and ensure your recordings meet the strict behavioural standards expected at the PCC level, you must prepare your submission with technical and coaching precision:
- Study the PCC Markers: Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the specific behavioural indicators assessors look for, such as how you establish a partnership rather than steering the client.
- Select representative sessions: Do not submit your most complex or dramatic sessions. Choose recordings that clearly showcase a natural coaching flow, active presence, and a clear shift in the client’s perspective.
- Verify the technical quality: Background noise, low volume, or poor connection can lead to immediate disqualification. Record using a high quality microphone and test the sound level of both voices.
- Obtain formal client consent: Always secure written permission from your clients before recording. Ensure they are comfortable with their session being shared with the ICF for evaluation purposes.
- Create an accurate verbatim transcript: Transcripts must be word for word, including pauses, repetitions, and filler words. Do not edit or polish the language, as any discrepancies with the audio may compromise your evaluation.
- Review with your mentor coach: Never submit a recording blindly. Use your mentor coaching hours to play your chosen sessions, receive structured feedback, and confirm that your performance consistently meets the evaluated criteria before applying.
Managing the financial and time investment
Planning your budget and calendar helps you avoid unexpected surprises during the certification journey. To plan effectively, you must separate your investments into clear categories:
Financial Investment
- Training costs: This is your primary investment, which covers the 125 hours of education. When choosing a school, always check whether their tuition fees include the mandatory mentor coaching hours or if these are sold as an extra module.
- Mentor coaching costs: If your core training programme does not include the ten hours of mentor coaching, you must budget for a qualified PCC or MCC mentor coach separately.
- The official ICF application fee: This is paid directly to the ICF. The fee is \$375 for members and \$525 for non members on the Level 2 Path, rising to \$750 for members and \$900 for non members on the Portfolio Path.
- Additional costs: Remember to account for translation or professional transcription fees if you are preparing transcripts for the Portfolio Path, as well as any study materials for your exam.
Time Investment
- Time to meet the eligibility requirements: The duration required to complete your five hundred coaching hours is completely up to your personal availability and practice schedule. It represents the active practice phase of your development.
- Application evaluation time: Once submitted, the ICF takes approximately four weeks to review a Level 2 application, whilst a Portfolio application can take up to eighteen weeks as assessors must evaluate your session recordings.
Is PCC the right step for you?
Rather than basing your decision on qualitative feelings, assess your readiness using these practical, objective questions:
- Have you already logged, or are you very close to logging, five hundred coaching hours?
- Are you aiming to work with corporate clients or in organizational environments where a PCC credential is a standard requirement?
- Have you completed a Level 2 programme, or do you need to compile a custom Portfolio Path application?
- Do you have the necessary time and financial resources to commit to the training and certification process?
- Is your main goal to move from simply applying coaching tools to embodying a stable, grounded coaching presence?
Are you eligible to apply for the ICF PCC?
Before starting your application, use this quick checklist to verify your eligibility:
- Have you completed at least 125 hours of eligible coach specific education?
- Have you logged at least five hundred coaching hours?
- Are at least 450 of those hours fully paid?
- Have you worked with at least 25 different clients?
- Have you completed at least fifty coaching hours in the last 18 months?
- Have you completed ten hours of mentor coaching with a PCC or MCC coach over a period of at least three months?
- Have you fulfilled the Performance Evaluation requirement for your chosen path?
- Are you ready to complete the situational ICF Credentialing Exam?
Frequently Asked Questions About ICF PCC Requirements
Do all 500 hours have to be paid?
No. You need at least 450 paid hours. The remaining 50 can be pro-bono or peer coaching.
What counts as coach-specific training?
Training that is specifically aligned with the ICF Core Competencies. General leadership or soft-skills training does not qualify.
Do I need 50 hours in the last 18 months?
Yes. This is a mandatory requirement to ensure you are a current, active practitioner.
Can I apply through Portfolio if my training was not Level 2?
Yes, but be prepared for a more rigorous audit and a longer wait time for your recordings to be assessed.
How often do I need to renew my PCC?
Every 3 years, with 40 hours of CCE units.
What are the ICF PCC requirements?
You must complete at least 125 hours of coach specific education, log five hundred coaching hours (with 450 paid), work with at least 25 clients, complete ten hours of mentor coaching, pass a performance evaluation, and pass the official exam.
Do I need an ACC before applying for PCC?
No, you do not need to hold an ACC credential before applying for the PCC. You can apply directly for the PCC as your first credential as long as you meet all the eligibility requirements.
How many coaching hours are required for PCC?
You must document a minimum of five hundred coaching hours.
How many PCC coaching hours must be paid?
At least four hundred and fifty of your five hundred hours must be paid sessions.
When do coaching hours start counting?
Your hours only start counting after you begin an ICF approved coach specific training programme consisting of at least thirty hours, with at least twenty four hours dedicated to the Core Competencies.
What is the difference between the Level 2 and Portfolio paths?
The Level 2 Path is a streamlined route for graduates of an accredited Level 2 programme, where the school evaluates your recordings. The Portfolio Path is for coaches with mixed or non accredited training, and requires submitting recordings directly to the ICF for evaluation.
Do Level 2 candidates need to submit coaching recordings to ICF?
No, Level 2 candidates do not need to submit recordings to the ICF because their performance evaluation has already been completed and approved internally by their accredited school.
Can an ACTP or ACSTH certificate still be used?
Yes, older certificates are still valid. An ACTP certificate allows you to use the Level 2 application path, while an ACSTH certificate will require you to apply via the Portfolio Path.
How much does the ICF PCC application cost?
For the Level 2 Path, the application fee is $375 for ICF members and $525 for non members. Fees for the Portfolio Path are higher, $750 for ICF members and $900 for non members.
How long does the PCC application take?
The Level 2 Path review takes approximately four weeks, while the Portfolio Path can take up to eighteen weeks as assessors must evaluate your recorded sessions.
How often must the PCC credential be renewed?
You must renew your PCC credential every three years by completing forty Continuing Coach Education units, including ten hours of new mentor coaching.
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